The North Face Explore Fund Awards Grant to CPAWS Southern Alberta
THE NORTH FACE EXPLORE FUND AWARDS GRANT TO CPAWS SOUTHERN ALBERTA
CPAWS supports a national effort to increase outdoor participation among youth
CALGARY, ALBERTA – July 1, 2012– The North Face has awarded a grant to CPAWS Southern Alberta to help children and families explore the outdoors. CPAWS is Canada’s voice for wilderness - through our unique education programs, we seek to create a community of knowledgeable, empowered citizens who engage in stewardship and positive environmental action to conserve ecosystems, wilderness, and protected areas. CPAWS Southern Alberta was selected from hundreds of applications because of our award-winning environmental education programs and commitment to building an ethic of environmental responsibility in young people. In the first of two grant cycles in 2011, The North Face awarded $125,000 Explore Fund grants to 52 projects helping more than 30,000 kids to connect to nature.
“Our long-term goal is that we can create environmental leaders,” says Jennifer Casciani, CPAWS Southern Alberta’s Education Coordinator. “The Explore Fund plays an important role in helping to make this happen.” CPAWS Southern Alberta’s Education Team was established in 1997 deliver environmental education programs around Calgary and Southern Alberta. Since its founding, our environmental education programs have earned several awards, and we continue to strive to provide excellence in our programs and delivery.
“First-hand experience is essential to ignite a passion for the outdoors, and that shouldn’t be limited by gender, race or income level,” said Ann Krcik, director of outdoor participation at The North Face. “At The North Face, we’re dedicated to providing everyone with the access to our natural playgrounds and the resources they need to get outside.”
CPAWS Southern Alberta’s Education Team runs education programs throughout the school year. To learn more about CPAWS Southern Alberta and our education programs visit http://www.cpaws-southernalberta.org. To learn more about all of the Explore Fund grantees and to keep up on their progress visit http://www.planetexplore.com and www.twitter.com/cpawssab.
About CPAWS Southern Alberta
CPAWS is Canada's voice for wilderness. Southern Alberta Chapter staff and volunteers have been champions of southern Alberta's wild places since 1967. Our goal is provide landscape scale, science-based support and advice for the conservation and protection of Alberta’s protected areas and wildlands. Visit http://www.cpaws-southernalberta.org
About The North Face Explore Fund
The North Face® Explore FundTM is a grant program committed to supporting non-profit, community organizations that break down the barriers preventing children and families from experiencing the outdoors. The Explore Fund, administered by The Outdoor Foundation, finds, engages and provides funding for new partners that help further the mission of inspiring the next generation of explorers and conservationists by helping them discover nature's playground.
About PlanetExplore
PlanetExplore is an online community founded by The North Face, powered by partner organizations that share a passion for the outdoors, and designed to help individuals and families learn about and participate in outdoor activities and events in their area. PlanetExplore is a portal to the outdoors designed to inspire and enable people of all ages to become regularly active outside, and to enjoy the benefits gained through a connection to nature.
For more information, please visit our websites:
The Explore Fund www.explorefund.com
Planet Explore www.planetexplore.com
Media Contacts:
Kate Semrau, CPAWS Southern Alberta, 403-232-6686 x107, ksemrau@cpaws.org
Jessica Starkey, The North Face, 514-832-0040 x271, jessica_starkey@vfc.com
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